Intertidal Organisms of Point Reyes National Seashore
Intertidal Organisms of Point Reyes National Seashore
Intertidal Organisms of Point Reyes National Seashore
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<strong>Intertidal</strong> <strong>Organisms</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Point</strong> <strong>Reyes</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Seashore</strong><br />
PORIFERA: sea sponges. CRUSTACEANS: barnacles, shrimp,<br />
crabs, and allies.<br />
CNIDERIANS: sea anemones and allies.<br />
MOLLUSKS : abalones, limpets, snails,<br />
BRYOZOANS: moss animals. clams, nudibranchs, chitons, and octopi.<br />
ECHINODERMS: sea stars, sea cucumbers, MARINE WORMS: flatworms, ribbon<br />
brittle stars, sea urchins. worms, peanut worms, segmented worms.<br />
UROCHORDATES: tunicates.<br />
Genus/Species Common Name<br />
Porifera Prosuberites spp. Cork sponge<br />
Leucosolenia eleanor Calcareous sponge<br />
Leucilla nuttingi Little white sponge<br />
Aplysilla glacialis Karatose sponge<br />
Lissodendoryx spp. Skunk sponge<br />
Ophlitaspongia pennata Red star sponge<br />
Haliclona spp. Purple haliclona<br />
Leuconia heathi Sharp-spined leuconia<br />
Cliona celata Yellow-boring sponge<br />
Plocarnia karykina Red encrusting sponge<br />
Hymeniacidon spp. Yellow nipple sponge<br />
Polymastia pachymastia Polymastia<br />
Cniderians Tubularia marina Tubularia hydroid<br />
Garveia annulata Orange-colored hydroid<br />
Ovelia spp. Obelia<br />
Sertularia spp. Sertularia<br />
Abientinaria greenii Green's bushy hydroid<br />
Aglaophenia struthionides Giant ostrich-plume hydroid<br />
Aglaophenia latirostris Dainty ostrich-plume hydroid<br />
Plumularia spp. Plumularia<br />
Pleurobrachia bachei Cat's eye<br />
Polyorchis spp. Bell-shaped jellyfish<br />
Chrysaora melanaster Striped jellyfish<br />
Velella velella By-the-wind-sailor<br />
Aurelia auria Moon jelly<br />
Epiactus prolifera Proliferating anemone<br />
Anthopleura xanthogrammica Giant green anemone<br />
Anthopleura artemissia Aggregated anemone<br />
Anthopleura elegantissima Burrowing anemone<br />
Tealia l<strong>of</strong>otensis Big red anemone<br />
continued on next page Metridium senile Plumose anemone<br />
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Genus/Species Common Name<br />
Cniderians cont. Corynactus californica Small red anemone<br />
Balanophyllia elegans Solitary coral anemone<br />
Bryozoans Several genera are common in the intertidal.<br />
Echinoderms Dermasterias imbricata Leather star<br />
Asterina miniata Bat star<br />
Henricia leviuscula Red sea star<br />
Solaster dawsoni Dawson's sun star<br />
Leptasterias hexactis Six-rayed star<br />
Leptasterias pusilla Little six-rayed star<br />
Pisaster ochraceous Ochre star<br />
Pisaster brevispinus Short spined sea star<br />
Pisaster giganteus Knobby star<br />
Pycnopodia helianthoides Sunflower star<br />
Cucumaria miniata Red sea cucumber<br />
Eupentacta quinquesemita White sea cucumber<br />
Parastichopus californicus Large sea cucumber<br />
Leptosynapta albicans Synaptid sea cucumber<br />
Ophiopholis aculeata Daisy brittle star<br />
Amphipholis pugetana Little brittle star<br />
Amphiodia occidentalis Western brittle star<br />
Ophiothrix spiculata Spiny brittle star<br />
Strongylocentrotus pupuratus Purple sea urchin<br />
Strongylocentrotus franciscanus Red sea urchin<br />
Dendraster excentricus Sand dollar<br />
Urochordates Commonly encountered genera include Ascidia, Clavelina, Ciona, and Styela.<br />
Crustaceans Pollicipes polymerus Gooseneck barnacles<br />
Balanus glandula Acorn barnacle<br />
Balanus crenatus Subtidal acorn barnacle<br />
Balanus cariousus Thatched barnacle<br />
Balanus nubilus Great barnacle<br />
Ligia occidentalis Rock louse<br />
Idothea resecata Isopod<br />
Orchestoidea californiana Beach hopper<br />
Caprella spp. Skeleton shrimp<br />
Metacaprella kennerlyi Skeleton shrimp<br />
Betaeus spp. Eye-shaded shrimp<br />
Hapalogaster cavicatuda Hairy crab<br />
Paraxanthias taylori Pebble crab<br />
Tigriopus californicus Red copepod<br />
Clausidium vancouverense Red copepod<br />
Mytilicola orientalis Parasitic copepod<br />
continued on next page Spirontocarius prionota Broken-back shrimp<br />
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Genus/Species Common Name<br />
Crustaceans cont. Crangon spp. Bay shrimp<br />
Upogebia pugettensis Blue ghost shrimp<br />
Callianassa californiensis Bay ghost shrimp<br />
Blepharipoda occidentalis Spiny mole crab<br />
Emerita analoga Mole crab<br />
Hapalogaster cavicuda Stone crab<br />
Cryptolithodes sitchenis Turtle crab<br />
Pagurus spp. Hermit crab<br />
Pleuroncodes planipes Pelagic red crab<br />
Petrolisthes cinctipes Flat porcelain crab<br />
Pachycheles pubescens Porcelain crab<br />
Pachycheles rudis Thick-clawed crab<br />
Pugettia spp. Kelp crabs<br />
Mimulus foliatus Encrusting crab<br />
Scyra acutifrons Sharp-nosed crab<br />
Loxorhynchus crispatus Masking crab<br />
Cancer antennarius Rock crab<br />
Cancer magister Dungeness crab<br />
Cancer productus Red crab<br />
Fabia subquadrata Pea crab<br />
Pinnixa spp. Pea crabs<br />
Scleroplax granulata Pea crab<br />
Pachygrapsus crassipes Lined shore crab<br />
Hemigrapsus nudus Purple shore crab<br />
Pycnogonum stearnsi Sea spider<br />
Mollusks Haliotis refescens Red abalone<br />
Haliotis cracherodii Black abalone<br />
Haliotis walallensis Flat abalone<br />
Haliotis kamtschatkana Pinto abalone<br />
Fissurella volcano Keyhole limpet<br />
Megaterbennus bimaculatus Two-spotted keyhole limpet<br />
Diodora arnoldi Keyhole limpet<br />
Dodora aspera Rough keyhole limpet<br />
Acmaea mitra Dunce cap limpet<br />
Acmaea palaecea Chaffy limpet<br />
Collisella digitalis Ribbed limpet<br />
Collisella scabra Rough limpet<br />
Collisella limatula File limpet<br />
Collisella pelta Shield limpet<br />
Notoacmea insessa Seaweed limpet<br />
Notoacmea paleacea Surfgrass limpet<br />
Notoacmea scutum Plate limpet<br />
Lottia gigantea Owl limpet<br />
Calliostoma spp. Top snails<br />
continued on next page Tegula brunnea Brown turban snails<br />
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Genus/Species Common Name<br />
Mollusks cont. Tegula fenebralis Black turban snails<br />
Littorina spp. Periwinkles<br />
Littorina planaxis Eroded periwinkle<br />
Cerithidea californica California horn snail<br />
Batillaria zonalis Horn snail<br />
Crepidula adunca Hooked slipper snail<br />
Polinices lewisii Giant moon snail<br />
Ceratostoma foliatum Leafy hornmouth<br />
Urosalpinx cinerea Atlantic oyster drill<br />
Ocenebra japonica Japanese oyster drill<br />
Acanthina spirata Unicorn whelk<br />
Nucella canaliculata Channeled dog whelk<br />
Nucella emarginata Emarginated dog whelk<br />
Nucella lamellosa Wrinkled dog whelk<br />
Searlesia dira Dire whelk<br />
Amphissa columbiana Wrinkled dove snail<br />
Nassarius obsoletus Dog whelk<br />
Nassarius fossatus Channeled nassa<br />
Nassarius cooperi Cooper's lean nassa<br />
Olivella biplicata Purple olive<br />
Aplysia californica Brown sea hare<br />
Phyllaplysia taylori Taylor's sea hare<br />
Pleurobranchaea bachei Pleurobranchaea<br />
Cadlina spp. Cadlina<br />
Hallaxa chani Chan's nudibranch<br />
Rostanga pulchra Scarlet nudibranch<br />
Archidoris montereyensis Monterey dorid<br />
Anisodoris nobilis Sea lemon<br />
Diaulula sandiegensis Ring-spotted dorid<br />
Hopkinsia rosacea Hopkin's rose<br />
Acanthodoris nanaimoensis Wine-plume dorid<br />
Triopha maculata Spotted triopha<br />
Triopha catalinae Sea clown nudibranch<br />
Melibe leonina Melibe<br />
Antiopella barbarensis Cockscomb nudibranch<br />
Dirona albolineata Chalk-lined nudibranch<br />
Dirona picta Spotted dirona<br />
Coryphella trilineata Three-lined nudibranch<br />
Fighting phidiana Fighting phidiana<br />
Hermissenda crassicornis Hermissenda<br />
Aeolidia papillosa Shag-rug nudibranch<br />
Trimusculus reticulatus Reticulate button snail<br />
Colsella senhousii Horse mussel<br />
Mytilus californianus California mussel<br />
Mytilus edulis Bay mussel<br />
continued on next page Ostrea lurida Olympia oyster<br />
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Genus/Species Common Name<br />
Mollusks cont. Crassostrea gigas Japanese oyster<br />
Crassostrea virginica Eastern oyster<br />
Pododesmus cepio Abalone jingle<br />
Hinnites giganteus Rock scallop<br />
Clinocardium nuttalli Heart cockle<br />
Gemma gemma Gem clam<br />
Saxidomus nuttalli Washington clam<br />
Protothaca staminea Littleneck clam<br />
Protothaca semidecussata Japanese littleneck<br />
Tresus nuttalli Horseneck clam<br />
Macoma nasuta Bent-nosed clam<br />
Macoma secta White sand clam<br />
Nuttallia nuttalli Purple clam<br />
Siliqua patula Pacific razor clam<br />
Hiatella arctica Little gaper<br />
Panopea generosa Geoduck clam<br />
Penitella penita Flat-tipped piddock<br />
Lepidozona mertensii Merten's chiton<br />
Tonicella lineata Lined chiton<br />
Nuttalina californica Nuttall's chiton<br />
Mopalia muscosa Mossy chiton<br />
Mopalia ciliata Mossy chiton<br />
Mopalia lignosa Mossy chiton<br />
Placiphorella velata Veiled chiton<br />
Katharina tunicata Leather chiton<br />
Cryptochiton stelleri Gumboot chiton<br />
Loligo opalescens Common squid<br />
Octopus rubescens Red octopus<br />
Octopus d<strong>of</strong>leini Giant octopus<br />
Marine Worms Arctonoe fragilis Scale worm<br />
Arabella seminaculata Arabella<br />
Axiothella rubrocinta Red joint worm<br />
Dodecaceria spp. Cirratulid worm<br />
Euzonius mucronata Red blood worm<br />
Eudistylia polymorpha Plume worm<br />
Glycera americana Glycerid worm<br />
Halosydna brevisetosa Scale worm<br />
Harmothoe imbricata Scale worm<br />
Hesperonoe complanta Scale worm<br />
Hoploplana californica Flatworm<br />
Leptoplana chloranota Flatworm<br />
Micrura verrilli Ribbon worm<br />
Neanthes brandti Big nereid worm<br />
Nephtys caecoides Nephtys<br />
continued on next page Nereis spp. Nereid tube worm<br />
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Genus/Species Common Name<br />
Marine Worms cont. Notoplana spp. Flatworm<br />
Oregoniplana opisthopora Flatworm<br />
Paranemertes peregrina Ribbon worm<br />
Phascolosoma agassizii Sipunculid worm<br />
Phoronopis viridis Green-plumed worm<br />
Platynereis agassizii Flat nereid worm<br />
Pisa pacifica Polychaete<br />
Sebella media Feather-duster worm<br />
Serpula vermicularis Serpulid polchaete<br />
Sipunculus nudus Sipunculid worm<br />
Themiste pyroides Sipunculid worm<br />
Tubulanus polymorphus Ribbon worm<br />
Thelepus crispus Sand-tube polychaete<br />
Urechis caupo Fat innkeeper worm<br />
This list is for educational purposes only.<br />
Last updated 8/29/2007. Changes will be made as we discover new information about<br />
intertidal species. Check our web site periodically for updated lists.
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